Table of Contents

1. Pronouns in Oromo Language

2. Prepositions in Afan Oromo
3. Days of the week in Oromifa
4. Numbers in Oromo Language
5. Telling time
6. Greeting
7. How to introduce yourself in Oromo Language
8. Other common words in Oromo Language
9. Parts of the body in Afan Oromo
10. Animals in Oromo Language
11. Colors in Oromo Language
12. Family members in Oromo Language
13. Related Topics
Pronouns in Oromo Language
• In Afan Oromo, we use plural pronouns for the elderly. In this article,
“E” in bracket stands for elderly, “S” for singular, “P” for plural, M for
male, and F for female.
Prepositions in Afan Oromo
• And – f/Fi (“-f” is used as a suffix.) • Far – Fagoo
• Near – Dhihoo
• But – Garuu • Besides – Bira/Bukkee
• Above (On) –
• In – Keessa
Irra/Irrakeessa/Gubbaa / Gararraa
• Between – Gidduu • Outside – Ala
• Under – Jala / Gajjallaa • With (together) – Wajjin
• Before – Ful dura/Fuullee • Besides – Malee
• Behind – Booddee / Booda/ • From – Irraa
Dudduuba / Dugda-duuba , The • To – Ittii
first two can also mean after
Days of the week in Oromifa

• Monday – Dafinoo, Wiixata

• Tuesday – Facaasaa , Kibxata
• Wednesday – Roobii
• Thursday – Kamisa
• Friday – Jimaata
• Saturday – Sanbata, Sanbat-duraa
• Sunday – Dilbata, Sanbata guddaa
Numbers in Oromo Language
Telling time
• Time – Saatii\Yeroo
• What time is it? – Yeroon meeqa?
• 1:00 – Tokko
• 1:5 – Tokkoof shan
• 1:15 – Tokkoof ruubii
• 1:30 – Tokkoof walakkaa (walakkaa means half)
• 1:35 – Lama digdami shan hir’uu
• 1:45 – Lama ruub hir’uu
• 1:50 – Lama kudhan hir’uu
• When? / What time? – Yoom? / Yeroo kam?
• Yesterday – Kaleessa
• The day before yesterday – Dheengadda
• Today – Har’a
• Now – Amma
• Later – Booda
• Morning – Ganama / Waaree dura
• Afternoon – Waaree booda
• Evening – Galgala
• Night – Halkan
• Tomorrow – Bor
• The day after tomorrow – Iftaan/ Bor olee
• These days – Yeroo ammaa/Yeroo si’anaa
• A long time ago – Dur
Greeting
• How are you? – Akkam?, Jirtaa? (S), Jirtuu? (E, P)
• I am fine – Nagaa, Fayyaa
• Thanks to God – Waaqayyoon (Rabbiin) haa galatu
• I am sick – Na dhukkuba
• Are you better? – Sii wayyaa?, Isinii wayyaa?
• I am better – Naa wayyaa
• Good morning – Akkam bulte? (S), Akkam bultan? (E, P)
• Good afternoon – Oolmaan akkam?, Akkam oolte? (S), Akkam ooltan? (E, P)
• Good evening – Oolmaan akkam? , Akkam oolte? (S), Akkam ooltan? (E, P)
• Good night – Nagaan(nagaatti) buli, Nagaan(nagaatti) bulaa
• What are you doing? – Maal hojjetta? (S), Maal hojjettu? (E, P)
• Goodbye – Nagaattii, Nagaan, Jedhi (S), Jedhaa (E, P)
• Ciao – Chawo
• Have a good day – Guyyaa gaarii, Nagaan ooli(S), Nagaan oolaa (E, P)
• Get there safely – Nagaan gali(S), Nagaan galaa (E, P)
• Come back safely – Nagaan kottu(S), Nagaan kottaa (E, P)
How to introduce yourself in
Oromo Language
• Let me introduce myself – Wal barra
• Name – Maqaa
• What is your name? – Maqaan kee eenyu?
• My name is …….. – Maqaaan koo ………. Jedhama
• Where are you from? – Eessaa dhufte? (S), Eessaa dhuftan? (E, P)
• Where is your country? – Biyyi kee eessa? (S), Biyyi keessan eessa?
(E, P)
• I am from …… – Kanan dhufe …….dha
• ……. Is my country. – Biyyi koo ……… dha
• How old are you? – Waggaan kee meeqa? (S), Waggaan keessan
meeqa? (E, P)
• I am …. (For age) – Waggan koo …..
• Do you speak (know) English? – Ingiliffa beektaa? (S), Ingiliffa
beektuu? (E, P)
• What is your number? – Bilbilli kee meeqa?
• What is your job? – Hojiin kee maali?
Other common words in Oromo Language
• Human – Nama • Toilet – Mana fincaanii
• Earth – Lafa • Good – Baroo, Gaarii
• Home\ house – Mana
• Bad – Gadhee
• Food – Nyaata
• Drink – Dhugaatii (also refers to alcoholic
• No – Lakki, Hi’i, Hi’iyyoo
drinks) • Yes – Eeyyee
• Water – Bishaan • Never – Gonkumaa
• Tree – Muka • Always – Yeroo hundumaa
• Farm – Qonnaa
• Nothing – Homaa
• Education – Barumsa
• School – Mana barumsaa • Okay – Tole
• Student – Barataa • Please – Maaloo
• Teacher – Barsiisaa • Thank you – Galatoomi(S),
• Car – Konkolaataa, Makiinaa Galatoomaa(E, P)
Cont….

• Clothes – Uffata\ Wayyaa

• Small\ a little – Xinnoo • Shoes – Kophee
• Big – Guddaa • Table – Minjaala
• Well – Sirriitti • Bed – Siree
• Mr – Obbo • Chair – Barcuma
• Mrs – Aadde • Stool – Dombii
• Job \career – Hojii • Sleep (n) – Hirriba
• It’s not – Miti • Sleep (v) – Rafuu
• Left – Bitaa • To see – Ilaaluu/Arguu
• Right – Mirgaa • Listen – Dhaga’uu
• Go – Deemi (S), Deemaa(E, P) ,
• Body – Dhanna/Qaama Deemuu( to go)
• Market – Gabaa • Sit – Taa’uu
• Shop – Suuqii • Stand – Dhaabachuu
Parts of the body in Afan Oromo

• Hair – Rifeensa • Forehead – Adda

• Skin – Gogaa • Eyebrow – Nyaara
• Nail – Qeensa • Eye – Ija
• Bone – Lafee • Nose – Funyaan
• Joint – Buusaa • Cheek – Maddii
• Blood – Dhiiga • Jaw – Mangaagaa
• Head – Mataa • Ear – Gurra
• Brain – Sammuu • Lip – Hidhii
• Face – Fuula • Teeth – Ilkaan
Cont…

• Tongue – Arraba • Chest – Laphee

• Throat – Qoonqoo • Breast – Harma
• Neck – Morma • Ribs – Cinaacha
• Shoulder -Gatiittii/Gurmuu • Heart – Onnee
• Back – Dugda • Lung – Soomba
• Belly – Garaa
• Stomach – Garaacha
• Liver – Tiru
Cont…
• Gut – Marimmaan • Thigh – Sarbaa
• Waist – Mudhii • Knee – Jilba
• Buttock – Hudduu • Leg – Luka
• Arm – Irree • Heel – Koomee
• Armpit – Bobaa • Foot – Miilla, Faana
• Elbow – Ciqilee • Finger – Quba
• Hand – Harka
• Palm – Barruu
Animals in Oromo Language

• Dog – Saree • Camel – Gaala

• Cat – Adurree, Bashoo • Donkey – Harree, Humaara
• Chicken – Handaaqqoo, Lukkuu • Horse – Farda
• Pig – Booyyee, Karkee • Mouse – Hantuuta
• Sheep – Hoolaa • Ox – Sangaa
• Goat – Re’ee • Cow -Sa’a
• Calf – Jabbii
Cont..
• Monkey – Qalamee • Snake – Bofa
• Ape – Jaldeessa • Lion – Leenca
• Bird – Simbirroo, Simbira • Tiger – Qerransa
• Bat – Simbira halkanii • Hyena – Waraabessa
• Dove – Gugee • Elephant – Arba
• Duck – Daakiyyee • Tortoise – Qocaa
• Vulture – Alaattii
Colors in Oromo Language
• Color – Bifa\ Haalluu • Yellow – Keelloo
• Black – Gurraacha • Orange – Burtukaanaa
• White – Adii • Lime – Loomii
• Silver – Daalacha/ Bifa daaraa • Brown – Daammii/Bunnii
• Red – Diimaa • Pink – Dimine
• Green – Magariisaa • Purple – Siddisa
• Blue – Gara waaq
Family members in Oromo
Language
• Family – Maatii
• Relative – Fira
• Close relative – Fira dhihoo
• Far relative – Fira fagoo
• Grandparent – Akaakayyuu
• Grandfather – Akaaka
• Grandmother – Akkoo
• Father – Abbaa
• Mother – Haadha/Harmee
• Husband – Abbaa warraa (Abbaa manaa), Dhirsa (informal)
• Wife – Haadha warraa (Haadha manaa), Niitii (informal)
• Maternal uncle – Eessuma
• Paternal uncle – Wasiilaa
• Aunt – Adaadaa
• Kid – Mucaa
• Kids – Ijjoollee
• Son – Ilma
• Daughter – Intala
• Elderly – Nama Guddaa
• Old – Jaarsa (F), Jaartii (M)
• Neighbor – Ollaa